Apparatus for cleaning rugs



Jan. 8, 1935. w. T. sTRlDE 1,936,947

APPARATUS FOR cLEANNG RUGs `Filed July 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR Z1/Siri@ www@ ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935. w T, 5TR|DE 1,986,947

' l APPARATUS-FOR` CLEANING BUGS 9 Filed July 9, 195o 5 sheets-sheet 2 r www El El El El a1 D@ l Elm INVENTOR.

LL'SATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1935. w. T. sATRlDE 1,986,947

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING RUGS Filed July 9, 1930` 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 715 ATTORNEYS `5 sheets-sheet 4 w. T. STRIDE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING RUGS 'Filed July 9, 195o Jan. 8, 1935.

. INVENTOR www irwze fama@ M JZTTORNEY s Patented Jan. `8, 1935 i ,a UNITED* STATES "f-f 5 i 131,986,947` Y ."Arrnnsrus Fon onEnNrNGfaUGs g Y WWilliam T.` Stride, Rochester, e

APAiElsxfr OFFICE Y., assigner to f' A Y v l 'cThe `American Laundry. Machinery Company, .i i Norwood, hio,ea `corporationofOhio i i l' applicati@ July. 9,1930, serial No.` 466,772

- 1s claims.

This invention relates to apparatusffor clean-` ing rugs and` more particularly `tor apparatus of this charactenemploying;'operating `devices `for removing the-,dust and. dirt from rugs, r carpets and other fabrics,` one object of; the invention being to provide a' simple `and `effective apparatus `for thoroughly removing a'maximum amount of the dust and dirt adhering to arug, carpet or wiseyinjuring: the-fibers thereof. r r r r Another object is the provisionof arelatively, simple, efficient and durable mechanism, easy to other fabric without loosening, tearing or other-v 10.. l

` control and operate, for `carrying outsu'chclean-` ing operation. A further object is to provide a machine for the Vpurpose described a, capable of performing beating, brushing vand vacuum clean# ing operations uponrugs and other fabrics of any thickness in an effective, `rapid andeflicient manner without injury tothe rugs and withoutallow.-

ing atmosphere. ,f rA1`further` Objectis the ing the escape of ldirtand dust into the surround` provision of faneicient apparatus of the character described wherein the rug or a `portion thereof is caused to flex orbend ina novel mannerso `as to effectively` loosen and remove the A,dirt which-has become matted the ing omitted andcertain parts broken interstices of the-fabric. i Still afurther cabjefctis` theeffective utilization'lof vacuum or suctionfn1 connection with the novel bending `or flexing proc-` ess to expedite the thorough removal ofA vdustand `dirtmattedinthefabric. 1 f f l Tothese and other ends the invention resides.v

incertain improvements and c rsombinatims` Vof parts, all `as `will,be,Hhereiriaftenl more fully. de

. scribed, the novel features beingpointed Aout in the claims at the `end of the specification.,

`In the drawings; l r g, r Fig. 1` is aside elevation of thev device, certain of the operating partslb'eing-shown in `sectionand others in dotted unes; 311,; i i Fig. 2 isasectional view takenaon tl1 ejline-2-2` varias;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device 'certain parts partially broken away;

4 is affront `elevation with the brush cas- K away so as to clearly disclose the `beaterelenients; Fig. 5l is a sectional'viewtaken ontheline 5-5 of Fig. 3', showing a beating t'o`ol in its upper positivon; .a a' *l m Fig. isa sectional viewI similar to Fig. 5,`s'how ing a beating tool in its `lower position, and

4.,Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevationlooking from the leftend of Figs. 1, 5` and `6.`

showing a parts to be described later.

. "Similar reference numerals throughout the several `views indicate the same parts.

r be cleaned, a vacuum `cleaning means for rapidly carrying away the dust removed by the tool, and

` a brushing orsweeping means for `removing traces "of dustnot carried away by the `vacuum means;

H Referring`more particularly to the drawings,

` preferred embodiment ofthe invention, 1 designates the base of the apparatus having thereon a conveying means for engaging a rug, hereinshown in the form of a pair of feed rollers, 2,1 3;a beating means` generally indicated at 4; a Ivacuum cleaning means 5; and a brushing `means, herein shown inthe form of a pair of rotary brushes, 6, 7. The basel is provided with suitable upstand- .jingy portionsI 8,- 8`1at each side of the machine which" form the framework for t A'horizontal plate portion-9 on the base extends betweenithe upstanding ,portions 8,` 8 and supports on its upper surface a pair of angle castings 10 and 11 which supporting the are suitably secured centrally on the plate portion r y 9.with their adjacent vertical portions 12 and 13 somewhat spaced apart to form the throat pore tion of the vacuum cleaning means which willbe described hereinafter. i

.r For =the sake of convenience of reference, the

right hand side of the machine as seenin Fig. l will be referred to as the front and theleft side `the rear of the machine.

The feed rollers, beating means and `brushes are` disposed 1 transversely of the machine b etween the upstanding frame 4portions 8 8. It is desirable that the corresponding feed rollers and brushes be arranged for `movement toward and from each, other for the purpose of facilitating starting of the rug between the rollers and determining the pressure of the brushes upon the rug.,` In the present embodiment the lower roller and brushare stationary on the frame l, and

the .upper roller` and brush vare vertically movable.

The lower roller 3 is mounted on a shaft `14 journalled in bearing brackets 15 whicharebolted or otherwise secured to the angle castinglO.

The upper rollerA 2,`theupper brush 6 and the ment is mounted on a beam member which extends between the slides 16-and is-.secured atbeating means 4 are operatively supported between vertically movable slide members 16 guided between pairs of inwardly extending lugs 17 on the upstanding portions 8, 8, see Fig. 3. The roller 2 is supported on a shaft 18 journalled in the slides 16. One end of the shaft extends outwardly of one of the frame portions 8 through a slot 19 formed therein land is provided with suitable gear means, hereinafter described', for driving the roller. e

The rollers 2 and 3 may be of any suitable con'- struction and are provided with any suitable friction covering such as rubber or lcloth to enable them to engage and feed the ruginto the machine;

'I'he beating means 4 in the present embodipoints Ato ahead member 28 in which an'impa'ct rodf29 sjimbedded. The rods'26 of each pairare connected at their upper ends'tofa cross rod 3'0.' A suitable adjusting meansginfthe present in'- stance indicated 'bjy an adjusting nut ,31, pro'- vided for decreasing orf increasing the' distance between the cross rod Eiland' the'impact ro'd 2.9.

,Thebeating tool may' b e operated in 'various ways ,to deliverimpacts to a rug therebeneath, 'but' the'present `embodiment theoperating means is shown as a camshaft' 32 extending along the beam` 2O and journa'l'ledin each pair of arms 23 on' brackets 22 and'which supports cams 33 thereon arranged for"altern'ate lifting or releasing Yofv the beating tools. A roller 34 is-providedfon each cross' rod 30 and is positionedy soas tofbefengagedby the' cam'in' its rotation with shaft 32. A coil spring 35 surrounds 'the lower end orffthe 27Nand theupper sident the head y'to cause the `head 28 to move downwardwhen the-cam passes from engagement with roller 34. Referring "A1-twill' be seen that when the calm) 33 is rotate finfthe direction shown by the arrfwfit will engage roller SLi-and'thereby lift thebeatingtool-'against the tension of' the springs 35V and, upon further rotation of' the camfi-twill pass-from engagement with the roller and allow the springs to-force'l the 'gtool downwardly, thus causing-it'to deliver-'a' sharp impact against the rugytherebeneathto eiiecti-vel-y Aseparate' the dust tlffereffrom.V

ff.'1fle anisfnvrnayallbe secured in the same position lon .shaft 32, kif desired, but it has been found'p'referable to arrange the cams on the shaft in .varyingy angular positions (see Figs. 1 and 4) so' that the adjacent beating tools will not operate simultaneously. ff'fhe .cams may also be arranged so' that no' two beating tools will operate at the same time'. The' particular sequence of operation,-

however,` is notmaterialto the present invention. 'Y Means are provided for yieldably supporting therujg at the point where the beating tool strikes. It is desirable to so correlate the yielding supportin g means'fwth the' 'beating tool. that when the tool strikes the" rugtnere' will be animpaet which rods-26 jandbueer against the lower side ofv bosseswill tend to remove the dust and after the impact the tool will continue to move downwardly so as to ilex or bend the rug at this point thereby opening the weave to loosen matted dirt from the interstices thereof. It is also desirable that the yielding supporting means be arranged so as to hold the rug, or a portion thereof in an upwardly iiexed position when the beating to'ol is not in engagement with the rug'. In. connection with the supporting means above described it has been found preferable to provide a vacuum means to vact on the rug at the time of the exing operation. The' above mentioned functions may be carried-out by various forms of mechanism and the flexing operation may or may not be accompar-liedwith Aa beating operation in order to produce desirable results upon the rug or other fabric.

, .1n-the present embodiment of the invention the yielding supporting means for the rug is positioned within the lthroat portion of the vacuum cleaning meansv 5 and 'these structures' will, therefore, be' described together. -As'sta'tedabov'e, the' angle Icastings 10 and 1l are positioned onthe plate portion- 9` with' the' upstand-in'g-portions `1'2 and 13 adjacent' and spaced apart. vIlie'upstanding portions thus form part of al throat' ortlfe vacuum means. lBetween the langle casting's' 10 and 11 the horizontal plate portion 9 is formed' with an opening into which a -neck`36 of a vacuum chest 37 is iittedas shown in Fig. 5. On' the upstanding vpart 12 is secured a bracket member 38 which servesalso as a-continuation of one side Eof the vacuum throat formed by parts 12 and i3'. The bracket member 38, in the present instance', extends toward the rollers' 2 and 3 and has an integrally formed plate portion 39 'extending-forward-ly toward -the beating mechanism.' The plate 39 serves to supportv the rug immediately after passing 'from the rollers 2 and 3 and 'before it is engaged by the beating means. Wh-ile' this plate can be horizontal or' inclined in''either direction, in the preferred' form ofthe inventionit is inclined upwardly toward the beating means as shown in Fig. 5. A somewhat similar plate portionr to the plate 39 is formed' on the upstand'- ing part 13 ofthe angle casting 11 serving both as a part of the vacuum'throat' structure and as'a supporting means for the rug.V Thisis shown in the yform of an` angle bracket-having a depending part 40, bolted or otherwise attached'to partf13, and a surface .41 which projects toward the brushes GVand 7 and serves toA supportl v'the rug after itileaves thebeating means -until `it passes between the brushes.

The yielding supporting means is shown in the present instance in the form or a 'plurality of lengths of coiled springwire 42 which are supported vat"the (entrance''oflthe vacuum throatformed between the adjacent-'edgesv ofy plates V39 and 41'.I -The l'englthof the 'coilsof wire'is preferably the same as the length of the beating tools',` see Fig. 4..

Means are provided for yieldingly supporting the coils or springs 42 vfor vertical movement vwithinthe vacuum` throat. The means preferably comprises a plate 43 pivoted at 44 on the bracket 38 held in position-by a spring 45 so that the free edge of the plate contacts the lower part of the coill spring 42 and holds the upper surface of the coil spring normally somewhat above the adjacent edges of plates 39 and 41. It will be understood that the pivoted plates 43y substantially. correspond in length to the coil springs and the beating tools,

Y id

' The e011 fs'pimfgjsj at@ preferably mined with their ffir'lvlutnsf spaced apart 'sufficiently m` wardlSr fleired eonditionlbeneath thebeating toolV and when the beating tol'strikesthe rug 4at this' point Yit rstproduces an Vimpact; tending-ftp 'removetheloosedust'in therugffandthen travels" downwardly -depressing` their o1 into fthe vaeuum throat againstth'e" ct1on"o"f"spring 45A tron substantially as jvindiatd `rifinita-15. 'nie L place is` relatively "short *soli*thati n omaterialamount of yresistance will be" oiered to' thefpassa'ge of the rug` through the machine. l The" nipvement of `the rug isl further` facilitated' and"" niade sub# i stantially uniformby the fact that the beating tools operateat differenttimesi-f C ""Ihe 'brushes Sand?` as previously statedare` supported "forV `relative" separating movement,` the upperfbrush 6,` inffthe present'finstance, being movableandthe lower` brush 'I beingstationary.y

i I'he upper brush "may Vbe `mounted forfrnovement in e Xedrelation with the 1fo`l`1e`r`2o`r indeperident-` ly thereefi. In-thepresent embodimentthe brush Grisfshowi xed"` on a shaft 4 6 which isA journalled i yin liziesaririgisci? on `the slides f16'" (see-Figi 2)"so'` asljto :nove1 verticallylwhen ther slides 16` are raised; The 'lower brush` '74 is fixed onfa shaft 48' journalled in bearings 49 onfrthebaseframe 1.l

Any suitable type of rotary brush may be utilized,`

t the particular` construction being immaterial to eral speed gre extending" therebetween t the present invention.i The brushesf` and `'l are preferably' driven "in opposite directions "so `that their peripheiii'esnovein a direction to feed "thev rug` between'gthdn out/fofl theniachinej'lhe brushes will, however, driven "with" a periph# s aterthanthespeedof fniovement of the rugito s thereby produce thev desiredi brushing .Y Means are provided forraising thepslides "16; 16` to raise the upper roller and brushandf-the beat-` ing: means'. For "thi'sfpurpsel there `isfshownLR-"as seen inFig. 1, a rod 50 secured tojthefslides'iand in the upper end'bf theframe members 8f 8l" On the endsdflrod 5 0 are seeuredeamlevers`52each facefi. A rigid lug or shelf me l cooperation with the` cam" leve f F011 refleli toFig. 1`, yit will/Abe seen thatwhen the upper end* of cam lever 52 is moved downwardly and toathe.

` machine theslides arelowered byareverse opera non of tneievers 5g sp that the Weight-ofthe parte' carriedhby the slides is imposed uponthe rugthus forming a yielding meahforleoldriihe TOUS@ and brushes in contact withtherugsothat rugs the `iiat surface A54 comes `to reston thelug.

3 f 'any thickness may be cleaned-'bythe machine. Itlwillfbe-"seeri further; as `theV upper roller and' brush beara fixedfrelationto each otherjrthe spacing4 between thev brushes is "substantially the same asI between the rollers so that there: will `be i no'danger of 'the' 'brushes injuringthe bers of thefrug since" they will alwaysbeheld aparta distance determined bythe spacing of 'the'rollers in engagement withtherug. i i i any 1 'suitable source fof powerl SIn 1 the 5 present instance,A the'means for `driving the `rollers: `2` and 3" "comprises `a` pair `of `wcrm wheelsy56` 'andf'l ixedV respectively toi` projectingends ofxshafts' 18 'and 14' 'and meshing respectivlywith worms 58";'and159- splined on averticalshaft 60;'1 The s'hafttBO has a bevel gear T61 latitsupper feriti Y *Means are 'provided for driving the parts fro'rn'` frame niemberb-S and'providediwith a beltlpulley t fiffdriven l'frorri any suitablepower source. l 'l ff The! means for driving' the cam` shaft "for the beatingtoolisshown as a pulley 66 on theendof the"-eam` shaft `32 which is driven by =a fbelt'l connected preferably to l an overhead 1 shaft .not showine In practice this` belt is suitably@ pro#- vided with any 'conventional automatic belt tight-.r ener to allow it to function properly in 'anywverxtically adjusted position ofwth'e cam shaft with. theslidesia/ ,i v l n The upper brush'may `be driven lin a similari manner asthe cam shaftiis drivenL- f In' the present instancerthere is showna pulley 68` on the end of `shaft 46 over which a be1t`1`69 runs`fto ia' suitable power "connection sucht asl anfoverhead' shaft. Thisbelt practice is also provided 4with automatic belt` tightening means forthe reasons saftedabovep i f V'I-he lowerbrush `'I is its?shaftv48,1` the i pulley being 'connectedH1 tovfa' sourceof powerI through beltfll.v 1 t.

Means are provided for` enclosing-the brushes 6 and 7 jto prevent thefesca'pe or" "dust intofthe surroiniding` atmosphere. Forthis'fpurpose, ra

, lower 1 casing t portion 72 isv securedffto the front of the i machine and is providedwith `a horizontal driven byapuily rm on table portion 73 which servesfto support the rug afterpassing from between! the brushes. 'Anlupper casing portion 74 "surrounds the upper brush and is constructed of1sufiici'ent`heightto allow `The opening between the *casing .portionsds closed by a fiexible iiap '75 secured ltothe upper casing-"74 `and arrangedsofasto be swung or bent'upward by-.the outwardpassage `of i a ru'g through the machine.` "Irl'ievfcasingsf arethus practically airtight.` i Y from theV casing the `dust -formed by the action ofptheybrushes. To this endeach casingy is in communication with the vacuum`r chest. The upper casing portion '74 isprovided withoneror more openings '76` inits endsforlthe reception of a suction conduit which connects withj the vacuum chest 37; The lower casinginthe pres-` ent instance is` in` `communication 4with `thefvac-l uum throat byimeans Vof an` opening A'77 formed in the upright portion 13 of angle'casting llzfV i 'The vacuum chest may `be `connected `with-any suitable sourceof vacuum such` as a" suction pump; as will beobvious to any `person skilledfinthe i art.` i

rrollersgz and3zand thezslides 16.a are-thenmoved downwardly =by;1meansof.-the cam lever. The rollers 2 and 3 upon `:comingvrv into engagement withthe 4rug forceithe rug. along -plate 39 and overfcoilfsprings 42 Aso as 'to bring it beneath the beatingtools. The cams 33 are rotating at considerable` :speed vthusalternately moving the beat-V ing tools up against the; compression of their springs 35y and .allowing lth'em-to-move` quickly downward when the cam passes out of contact with the froller 13,4. :.,Each beatingtool produces airapidisuccession of sharp impacts upon the rug immediately above its companioncoil spring 42.

s already explained, the beaters preferably do notoperate inunison, but are operated in 'any predetermined.sequence. The result being that Y the rugreceives a quick succession of independent l inra suitablemanner..-y

impacts transversely of its -length `as it is -moved along byrolls 2 and13 and brushes 6 and '7:`

' When-'the beating tool strikes the rug opposite coilispring -42 it produces nrst a relatively sharp impact and afterward-asn overcomes the in ertia ofthe` coil, itgcauses'downward movement of the same within the vacuum throat to thus bring-the rug vto a downwardlyflexed condition. After the beaterl head' moves upwardly, the spring 45 forces the plate 43 .upto its position as shown in Fig. v5 and theplate in turn Aforces the coi-lxspring 42 up to the position shown in the samegure. It is apparent that the action of the .beater is Eto nrst give rthe'` rug -a sharp blow after which the rug is moved from an upwardly flexed -to a rdownwardly flexed position. This movement Vtends ,to `separate the Vfibres very thoroughly and loosen the dust thereinI so asto facilitateitsgremoval by the vacuum means.

.fThe dust `and dirtv loosened by the beaters passesr between springs =42 down throughthe vacuum throat and into .the vacuum chest where it may be collected After the rug leaves thejbeater mechanism it -passes :along the surface 41 and between the brushes 6 and .7 whereany remaining dirt and dust onithe surfaces ofthe rug isremoved and conducted through the `openings -76 and '77 to the vacuumv chest. When the rug has `passed through Ithe machine the .slide 22 is raised :preparatory for the reception of anotherrug. The presentinvention thus provides an effectiveapparatus for-.cleaning rugs :and like fabri'cs to '.producef kuni-form"cleaning effects: theree on in a rapidpthorough and` uniform manner without injurious effect on the fibers of the fabf ricl" The invention likewise provides a comparatively' simple, practical and reliable apparatus by means of which the cleaning may be 'conveniently carried-lout. f Y y l fIclaim 1as myinvention: I l.^'n:a rug cleaning machine, in combination, means :for `:feeding a rug through said'machine comprising upperrand lowerv feed-rollers, an up- 4 Wardly movable supporting element on said ma-A chine in which. said upper feed roller is journalled, a vertically :reciprocating beating tool mounted on said V.vertically movable element, a rotatable brushy mounted on said vertically movable ele' ment apositirmed` .adjacent said :beating tool, a

rotatable brush on a fixed portion of the machine and around thecoilsgof. the

porting said. y a

whereby itvrwillmoverelative to the .main frame below said .rstmentioned brush, and means for raising .and flowering saidwsupporting means, so that said feed rollers and brushes may be moved into x*operativev or inoperative positions with respect to eachother. a

for delivering impactsto thex rug, suction means for `drawing dust or'the like through said throat and away from the,ru g,and avbrush means effec-y tive on said rug subsequently to said beating means.A I

3. In -al rugfcleaningmachine, a frameQrugfeedingl means including a supplemental frame supported by and movable, relative to vthe first ynamed frame in response 4to rug thicknesses, a

oor over -whichsaid rug travels, a gap in said floor forming ansuction throat, resilient means disposed in said throat for maintaining the part Aof said rug .in registry with said throat in upwardly flexed` position,

avbeating means carried by said movable supplemental frame whereby to deliver impacts of equal force to rugs of .varying thickness and in registry with said` throat for delivering `impacts to the rug, suction-means through said throat for drawingdust orA the like and away from the rug, and a brush means effective `on -said rug subsequently to said beating means, there-being Vmeans establishing communication between said suction means and the rugat Vthe point where sald ybrushes are effective thereon. .Y

.- 4. IA rug cleaningrmachine, comprising a main frame,ja supplemental framecarried thereby and movable thereon, a reciprocating rug beating means .carriedby said supplementalframe for deivering impacts to the rug, andrneansfor supysupplemental frame on the rug ink response to yrugthicknesses and thereby cause said beating means vto deliver 'impacts of- `equal force to rugsvof varying thickness.

``5. A rugcleaning machine, comprising amainV frame, asupplementalfram'e carriedthereby and movable thereon; a reciprocating rug beating,

throat ;for maintaining the part means carried by said supplemental frame for delivering=impacts tothe rug, means Lfor supporting said supplemental, frame on therugnwhereby it will move relativeto the main frame in. response to rug rugs Yof varying thickness,l andguide means co` Y thicknessesVv and .therebycausesaid beatingmeans to deliver impacts of equal force to rugs.

1,996,947' operating with said beating means for ilexing the rug in advance of the point struck by said beating means.

8. Arug cleaningmachine, comprising amain lframe, a supplemental frame carried thereby and movable thereon, a reciprocatinglrug.ibeat-I ing means carried by said supplemental` frame for delivering impacts to the rug, meansincluding a rug feeding means for supporting said supplemental frame on the rug whereby it will move relative to the main frame in response 'to rug thicknesses and thereby cause said beating means L to deliver impacts of equal force to rugs of varying thickness, and means for flexing a portion of the rug in registry with said beating means and prior to contact of said beating means with said portion of the rug.` l

9. A rug cleaning machine, comprising a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby'and movable thereon, reciprocating beating means `carried by said supplemental frame ffor delivering impacts to the,rug,upper` and lower rotatable brushes effective on opposite sides of the rug, one of said brushes being carried by saidsupplemental frame, and means for supporting said supplemental frame on saidk rug whereby the` supplemental frame, beating means and the one brush will be movable towards andawayfrom the rug in response to` rug thicknesses to thereby cause said beating means to deliver impacts of equal force to rugs of varying thicknesses and to ,1 movable thereon, `reciprocating lbeating means vary the spacing between said brushes.

10. A rug cleaning machine, comprising a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby and carried by said supplemental frame for delivering impacts to the rug, upper and lowerrotatable brushes elective on opposite sides of the rug, one

of said brushes being carried by said supplemental frame, and means includinga rug feeding means for supporting said supplemental frame 'on said I rug whereby the supplemental frame, beating frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby and means and the one brush will be movable towards and away from the rugin response to rug thickvnesses to thereby cause said beating means to deliver impacts of equal force to rugs of varying thickness and to vary the spacing between said brushes. Y s

l1. A rug cleaning machine, comprising a main movable thereon, reciprocating beating means carried by said supplemental frame for delivering impacts to the rug, upper and lower rotatable brushes effective on opposite sides of the rug, yone of said brushes being carried by said supplemental frame, means for supporting saidsupplemental frame on said rug wherebyv thev supplemental frame, beating means and theone brush will be movable towards and away from the rug in response to rug thicknesses to thereby causesaid beating means to deliver impacts of equal force to rugs of varying thickness and tovary the spacing between said brushes, and means for flexing a portion of the rug in registry withsaid beating` means and prior to contact of the beating means withsaid portion of the rug.

A12. AA rug cleaning machine, comprising a mainV gframe, a supplemental frame carried thereby and 'movable thereon, reciprocating beating means f carried by said supplemental frame for delivering impacts to the rug,"upper and lower rotatable brushes effective on opposite sides ofthe rug, One

frame, meansdncludinga rug feeding means for supporting said supplemental frame `on' said rug 1o of said brushes being carried by 'said supplemental whereby the supplemental frame, beating means and the one brush will be movable towardsA and away from the rug in response to rug .thicknesses to thereby cause'said beating means to deliver impacts of equal force to rugs'of varying thickf ness and to vary the spacing between said brushes,

andguide means cooperating with said beating struck by said beating means.

13. A rug cleaning machine, comprising a main frame, a l'supplemental frame carried thereby and movable thereon, a oor over which said rug travels, a gap in said oor, resilient means disposed in said gap for maintaining the part of the rug in registry with the gap in upwardly flexed position, means including a rug feeding means for `supporting said supplemental frame on the rug whereby the supplemental frame will be movable towards and away from the rug in response to rug thicknesses, and a beating means carried byl said supplemental frame and in registry with the gap for delivering impacts to the rug'.`

14. A rug cleaning machine, comprisinga main i frame, asupplemental frame carried thereby and movable thereon, a floor over which saidrug travels, a gap in said iioor, resilient means dis-` posed in said gap for maintaining the part of the rugin registry with the gap in upwardly flexed position, means including a rug feeding means for supporting said supplemental frame on therug whereby the supplemental `frame will be movable towards and away from the rug in response to rug thicknesses, a beating means carried by said sup- I plemental frame and in registry with the gap for delivering impacts to the rug, and said iioor adjacent said gap cooperating `with said beating means for iiexing the rug in advance of the point struck by saidbeating means. v

1 5.,In a machine `of the class described,` the combination of beating means, and means for `yieldingly supporting a fabric therebeneath comprising an elongated member, a member extendling along `and partly beneath-the first-named.

member, said second-named member being pivotally supported for movement toward and from the first-named member, and means for yieldingly biasing said second-named member toward said first-named member.

16. In a rug cleaning machine, beating means,

spaced supports for carrying a rug therebeneath,

said beating means being mounted for movement `between said supports, and to points above and below the plane of the same, yielding means for holding the portion of said rug between said supports at a point above the plane of -said supports, Y

and said beating means functioning to move the portion ofthe rug struck thereby to a point below the plane of said supports.

' WILuAM T. s'rRIDE.

20 i means for flexing the rug inadvance ofthe point 

